In Person Workshops this December 2023

Young Filmmakers Workshop for Grades 6 to 8
Sunday, December 3, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Students in grades 6 to 8 will learn the basics of how to make a film from professional filmmakers. Instruction will cover story, framing, lighting, audio, editing, and production. Entering the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest is encouraged but not compulsory.

BRING AN IPAD OR TABLET! Nut-free snacks and water are provided. Cost is $45 for River Forest residents and $50 for non-residents. Location is River Forest Depot, 401 Thatcher Ave., River Forest, IL. This is a collaboration with the River Forest Park District.

Young Filmmakers Workshop for Grades 3 to 5
Sunday, December 10, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Students in grades 3 to 5 will learn the basics of how to make a film from professional filmmakers. Instruction will cover story, framing, lighting, audio, editing, and production. Entering the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest is encouraged but not compulsory.

BRING AN IPAD OR TABLET! Nut-free snacks and water are provided. Cost is $45 for River Forest residents and $50 for non-residents. Location is River Forest Depot, 401 Thatcher Ave., River Forest, IL. This is a collaboration with the River Forest Park District.


Young Filmmakers Online Academy

 
 
Young Filmmakers Online Academy logo

Parents and teachers are always looking for new and exciting online educational materials. Look no further. The Young Filmmakers Online Academy is for 3rd through 8th graders and was developed during the summer of 2020 by Patrick Thomas Keen of PTK Productions. Along with help from film editor Evan Fintzy, Keen has taken the most up-to-date filmmaking pedagogy and distilled it into this series covering Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. Only cell phone or tablet with editing software required. This adaptable series is for individuals and classrooms, to use on your own or synchronously. Lesson plans and optional equipment list included.

 

What Will You Get?

Included in this package are a series of short videos explaining all the major concepts involved in filmmaking along with supplementary materials such as storyboards and an optional equipment list.

Pre-Production

40 to 60 minutes. A series of short videos with time to discuss, research and practice.

  • Lesson Guide

  • Storyboard Template

  • Sample Script

  • Introduction to Filmmaking

  • Sample Film

  • Genre, Tone, & Three-Act Structure

  • Scriptwriting & Storyboards

  • Interviews & Asking Questions

  • Preproduction Conclusion

Create at home. Write script and create storyboard.

Production

40 to 60 minutes. A series of short videos with time to discuss, research and practice.

  • Lesson Guide

  • Production Introduction

  • Safety on Set

  • Directing

  • Props, Costumes & Locations

  • Camera

  • Lighting & Shadows

  • Sound Recording

  • Production Conclusion

Create at home. Record the film.

Post-Production

40 to 60 minutes. A series of short videos with time to discuss, research and practice.

  • Lesson Guide

  • Post-Production Introduction

  • Editing Essentials

  • Titles & Visual Effects

  • Soundtracks & Audio Editing

  • Credits, Citing Sources & Permissions

  • Publishing, Privacy, & Digital Citizenship

  • Enter the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest

Create at home. Edit and publish. Enter the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, if you choose

 
 

Features

Adaptable

  • Can be presented over 3 weeks, ideally, with time for script writing, filming, and editing in-between sessions

  • Can be presented over 3 days

  • Can be presented over 3 hours

  • For individual use alone

  • For classroom use in groups

  • For synchronous learning

  • For asynchronous learning

Accessible

  • Closed caption videos (English and Spanish)

  • Video playback speed control

  • Transcription documents with screen reader support

  • High contrast text ratios

  • 70+ rating on the Flesch reading-ease scale (suitable for 7th grade reading level equivalence)

Actionable


2019 Filmmaking Workshops Photo Gallery

Check out this series of photos from our 2019 live action workshops, pre-Covid-19. We’ve been teaching students filmmaking since 2014.

The Young Filmmakers Online Academy was funded by a grant from the Environmental Law & Policy Center.